Been a while...

I've spent the weekend filling my Etsy shop. My booth partner Tracy & I have had many shows this year, and our next one is in October. I figure this is the time to get off my ass and fill it up!  I will be listing some earrings and silver necklaces, too, so keep checking in!

One very, very exciting thing that happened is that I was one of the winners for the Bead Soup Blog Party (yeah, way back in April)!  I won an awesome metal stamping kit from PJ Tools!  Check out their site, some yummy jewelry supplies.  I will be posting more about them later this week.

A Few Early Shots of Some Jewelry

I love living in Michigan, and I love all five seasons (can't forget about construction season).  The downside is that in the winter it is dark when I leave for work and dark before I return home.  I hope to take some better pictures this weekend and list some new goodies.

For now, here is a sneak peek...

A little boho...

And a little raku...

Feeling Sassy and Sparkly!

This weekend I was a vendor at the Bead Bonanza in Southfield, Michigan.  It was a good show. but my highlight was meeting the incredible Ofilia Cinta.  I took my first lampwork class back in 2004, and one of the first artists I discovered online was Ofilia. Not coincidentally, some of the first beads I made were fish:

I gave them my own twist and added multiple eyes, and you can't see it, but this fish (as most of mine did) had a butt.

This is the fish I bought from Ofilia:

See the similarity?  Neither do I. :)  My point is, great art and great people make you you want to strive for more, to do more, and to be a better you. What is great art? For me, it is something that stimulates and makes you think. What is a great person?  Someone who smiles at you (and doesn't look for the exits) as you babble on about your divorceandyouroventhatburnseverythingnomatterthetemperatureandhowmuchyouveadmiredherworkforoversevenyearsandyouaresogeekedtomeetyou...

Beads of Courage Challenge this Saturday!

This Saturday I will be in Brighton, MI, at Stanesa Glass Studio for the first annual National Bead Challenge.  Beads of Courage is an arts in medicine program for children with serious illness.  The good news is that the program has expanded to over 140 hospitals around the world. The success comes at a cost, however, as they are in great need of beads.

No problem - we're on it!  This Saturday, 8 glass studios around the U.S. (not to mention hundreds of lampworkers in their own home studios) will participate in creating beads for over 6 hours that day. Also at these events, there will be Sponsor Beads for sale for only $5.00; Sponsor Beads are fun beads and special notes of encouragement are written to be given with that bead to an ill child.

If you are on the east side of the state, please stop by and support a great cause.

Up on Etsy

Up now in my Etsy shop are two new pairs of earrings. These earrings were made with some cute disc beads handmade by Mermaid Glass.

Later, I'll be posting more yummies!

Sunshine for Sale

Just listed in my Etsy shop! A fun and bright pendant and earrings to usher in Summer!

More Beads Listed

Listed some more beads in my Etsy store today. Check it out for some really great deals!

Destashing My Beads

While cleaning and organizing my work desk, I decided to destash some of my beads. Over the next few days, I will be listing soem groups if my handmade beads. Tonight, I listed a collection of read beads and a collection of goddess. Check out my Etsy store for some great deals!